[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-foresight":3,"chapter-foresight-foresight-chapter-79":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","FORESIGHT",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1847627,2452,"Chapter 79 79: One More Year","foresight-chapter-79",79,"\u003Cp>On January 2nd, Arsenal traveled to face Southampton in the 21st round of the Premier League.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the match, Kai's performance was once again impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His quick interceptions and relentless pressing were vital in Arsenal's defensive efforts. But despite his contributions, Arsenal struggled to generate momentum on the counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple — Southampton's aggressive high press kept Kai pinned deeper than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to launch direct counters after winning possession, and while his teammates made intelligent runs, Southampton's tightly knit defensive setup made clean breakthroughs hard to come by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai couldn't initiate the attack early, and without top-tier ball distribution from deeper positions, Arsenal's build-up stalled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the 44th minute, Southampton capitalized. Exploiting space down the left, they beat Kai on the overlap and broke through to open the scoring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ESPN commentator Ian Darke remarked, \"Southampton did their homework on Arsenal's patterns. In the end, it's tough for an 18-year-old to carry the tactical burden of an entire side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That goal put Arsenal in a difficult position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forwards pushed urgently for an equalizer, and the touchline turned chaotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At halftime, Arsène Wenger made a tactical tweak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He moved Kai centrally in midfield and shifted Ramsey out wide to the left defensive role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This adjustment gave Kai a breather from constant pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with a bit more space and support, Kai began to show his passing range again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the 70th minute, Kai launched a pinpoint long ball to Podolski, who controlled well before laying it off to Chamberlain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chamberlain slid it through to Walcott, who made the extra pass in the box, and Suarez smashed it home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal equalized just one minute later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The match ended 1-1.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai's performance remained a bright spot. While the first half exposed some challenges, Wenger's second-half reshuffle brought composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given Arsenal's recent form and the difficulties of away fixtures, the draw was a valuable result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Emirates, they had just beaten Newcastle. But away from home? Wins were harder to come by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger had one guiding principle for the rest of the season:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Win every game you're supposed to win.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Translation? Against title contenders, play smart. Against mid-table or bottom-half teams, take all the points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the professor's perspective: take 80 points at home, add 10–20 more on the road, and don't drop points unnecessarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the Southampton fixture, Arsenal faced a formidable challenge at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manchester City was coming to town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for Kai, this was going to be a battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was up against one of the most relentless forwards in the league — Argentina's own, Carlos Tevez.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai never feared fancy dribblers. His positioning and reading of the game usually neutralized them. But powerful, explosive strikers like Tevez?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were a different story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tevez, in his prime, was a nightmare: quick, aggressive, and relentless in the press. The scar running from his ear to his throat only added to his fearsome presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were the types of matchups that drained Kai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lacked the physical edge to dominate in direct collisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each challenge with Tevez pushed him off balance. Though he always scrambled back to re-engage, it wasn't enough to shut the Argentine down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, Kai managed to record three successful tackles out of six duels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But compared to his usual efficiency, it was a noticeable drop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Arsenal felt it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their defensive structure depended heavily on Kai's ability to intercept and disrupt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without that stabilizing force, cracks started to show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, Manchester City broke through. In the 78th minute, Milner whipped in an assist for Dzeko, who buried the only goal of the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal fell 0-1 at home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a tough loss, especially for Kai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night, he quietly returned to his extra training regime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood something clearly: as a defensive anchor, if he couldn't hold up physically against top-tier strikers, it was a failure on his part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to push harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because at this level, there are no excuses — only results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Pat stopped him before he could get too deep into another round of weight training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enough. That's your limit for today,\" Pat said firmly. \"You're only 18. You're still growing, and your muscle development isn't complete. Overtraining now will only burn through your growth hormones early.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a blunt warning, but a necessary one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most men don't reach full physical maturity until around 24, and those years are crucial for natural strength development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai, still eager but clearly worn down, tightened his lips. \"But I need to get stronger. Right now, I can't even match Tevez one-on-one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat raised an eyebrow. \"And who told you that you have to go toe-to-toe with players like him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai looked confused. \"Isn't that how you stop someone like Tevez? Match him physically?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat gave a small chuckle. \"That was a myth Mourinho started back in the day — crowd the box and throw bodies at the striker. He was just baiting teams into focusing only on Drogba. That kind of brute-force tactic rarely works the way people think it does.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what does work?\" Kai asked, still processing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat leaned forward, his voice low but clear. \"How did you defend Walcott back when you only weighed 73 kilos?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai blinked, thought for a second. \"I usually got someone else to press him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat smirked. \"I meant one-on-one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kai paused again. And then, slowly, the realization crept in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I went for sharp reads... timing my tackles. Cut the lane. Took the ball, not the man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly,\" Pat said, nodding. \"You used to rely on anticipation and smart challenges. But now that you've bulked up a bit, you're leaning too much on strength. There's nothing wrong with that — it's just not always the answer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When you're up against players like Tevez or Drogba, they'll bulldoze through you if you meet them head-on. That's where timing, quick feet, and surprise steals matter most.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember: the man can go — but the ball stays.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat fixed Kai with a serious look. \"Sharp. Clean. Unexpected. Like you used to do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he added, \"And from now on, stay out of the weight room unless it's essential work. You've got the drive, I get that. But you need balance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat knew he had to limit Kai's access to the equipment room. Otherwise, the lad might as well move in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, Pat walked over to join Wenger on the touchline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How'd it go?\" Wenger asked without turning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pat shrugged. \"He's sharp. Picked it up right away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger smiled. \"Let's just hope he doesn't overthink it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's not like the others,\" Pat said, more softly now. \"Most kids hit a wall and sulk. He starts thinking of how to break through it. Sure, some of his ideas are reckless — but he's always looking for answers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a pause, and then Pat added, \"He wants to be better. All the time. Setbacks won't stop him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger gave a quiet nod. \"Good. Because things won't get easier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arsenal were entering a brutal stretch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Round 23: away to Chelsea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Round 24: home against Liverpool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger's voice turned grim. \"We can't afford to slip up now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These weren't just big matches — they were must-win scenarios.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Arsenal stumbled here, their season could fall apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gunners had already dropped to fifth, two points behind Spurs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger knew the math. If they didn't take something from these next two games, they might even fall out of the Champions League race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that weighed on him heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another season chasing fourth. Another year clinging to qualification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When would Arsenal return to their best? When would they fight for titles again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wenger exhaled, eyes drifting toward Kai, now deep in conversation with a teammate on the pitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One more year,\" he said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, this time, his voice had more steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One year. That's all I ask.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1310,"2026-06-09T07:00:21.491Z",1,"novelbin.me","7c0950291cc1bfde3116bedc8177c8e95a3bff03918276f81e4b47f97965450e","foresight-chapter-80","foresight-chapter-78",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fforesight-cover.jpg"]